PACIFIC FOREST PRODUCTS, //vC.

buy materials and tools for big tickets d-i-y projects have been well received. The instructor at home theory is in accord with established theories of education.

Sponsors, too, appear enthusiastic. Chris Grover of the California Redwood Association is impressed with the tape giving instruction on the building of a deck. Chamberlain is issuing press releases describing their part in the program as well as a tape relating to the installation of a garage door opener and storm doors.

The program which received a strong response at the Home Center Show in Chicago, Il., in March, according to Roskind, will be a featured event at the Hardware Industry Week /National Hardware Show in Chicago in August.

Fix Up Sales Rising

(Continued from page 9) the recent severity of the housing market, but are not showing longterm growth. Hardware stores will grow moderately. Among home centers, the so-called "super stores" (of high square footage) and warehouse-style units are seen as having the best growth potential.

The product category forecasts are broken down by store type, with both wholesale and retail sales values given. Singling out the dominant store type (home centers), dimensional lumber will grow the most in dollars.

NWP Rolling, But Barely

Southern Pacific Railroad's troubled subsidiary, the Northwestern Pacific, has made the repairs needed to get the line open for traffic.

Several court actions prompted the SP to repair the Longvale Tunnel as well as repair and replace extensive sections of rail line lost to washouts last year. The line, which connects Eureka, Ca., with Willits, Ca., was quietly re-opened for service in March.

The Southern Pacific has long sought permission from the Interstate Commerce Commission as well as state agencies to abandon the NWP trackage. Last year the SP initiated a $1,200 surcharge per car. As a result traffic has been extremely light as shippers view the surcharge as prohibitive.

One result of the NWP situation has been a noticeable shift of lumber products from the North Coast from rail to truck transportation. Several companies have become involved in operations that consist of traffic being sent by rail from producing areas to

Eureka, Ca., where the railroad car is then unloaded and the contents reloaded onboard ocean going barges for cargo shipment via water.

Production Up Over 1983

Lumber production in February was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 33.8 billion board feet, 8.lgo below the January rate, but 7.7u/o above February, 1983, reports David E. Stahl, president of the National Forest Products Association. "The industry is optimistic that 1984, like last year, will be a moderately good y€ff," Stahl said. "Current production levels reflect that optimism."

Softwood lumber production was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 27.5 billion bd. ft., 9.190 lower than January but 9.4V0 above February, 1983. Hardwood lumber production, at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.2 billion bd. ft. was down 3.390 from the previous month but frac- tionally higher than the level of February, 1983.

Lumber shipments were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 32.7 billion bd. ft., down 6.890 from January but l39o above February, 1983.

Softwood lumber shipments were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 26.9 billion bd. ft., down 7.790 from the January rate but 18.290 higher than February, 1983. Hardwood lumber shipments, at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.8 billion bd. ft., were down 1.990 from Januarv.

BN Nixing Transit Privileges

The Burlington Northern Railroad is continuing its ongoing plan to eliminate transit privileges on lumber. This is expected to be effective both for the BN mainline operation as well as their Oregon and Washington facilities.

Effected will be stations in Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, and Utah.

Hardware Mfrs. Bullish

Recovery of the hardlines industrY will continue this year, according to respondents to the annual American Hardware Manufacturers Association survey.

With 9690 anticipating unit sales increases averaging 1490, more than 9690 predicted dollar volume increases averaging 16.290 over last year.

Other responses included 33s/o planning plant expansion; 5890 expecting to make significant capital equipment purchases; 5590 planning to hire more employees; 25.6s/o describing the impact of imported hardlines as "significarft;," 51.2s/o considering it "minor but growing." Those polled were divided almost evenly on imports being just right or too lenient.

On economic questions, they predicted inflation rising 5.390; GNP expanding 4.7s/o; unemployment declining to 8.2t/o; prime rate hovering at ll.4v/o; housing starts increasing ll.89o over 1983.

Hampton Lumber Sales

HAMPTON INDUSTRIAL

HAMPTON OVERSEAS

HAMPTON VENEER